An Observation of Public Libraries in Europe: the Urban Library Council trip

Written by Jessica Hedgecock onFebruary 25, 2009 – 6:30 PM

Patrick Losinski shares his observations from the recent Urban Library Council trip to Europe. This is an opportunity to learn about what is happening in public libraries in the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden. Members of the delegation were able to see and experience new technologies, service models, collaborations, and cultures in action. Come and join discussion about how American libraries might benefit from this exchange.

Come see the presentation that shared:
What is happening in libraries in Europe
What can we learn form those libraries?
…and what can they learn from our public libraries?

Presenter Pat Losinski has served as Executive Director of the Columbus Metropolitan Library; a twenty-one branch library district serving 820,000 residents in Franklin County, Ohio, since 2002. CML has an annual operating budget of $50 million, 850 employees, and one of the highest annual circulation rates among public library systems in the United States. More than 8 million customers visit the libraries each year – and more than 9 million visit www.columbuslibrary.org. Prior to joining the Columbus Metropolitan Library, Mr. Losinski spent five years as executive director of Pikes Peak Library District in Colorado Springs, Colorado. While there, he led a restoration and fundraising effort for a historic Carnegie library, as well as numerous branch construction projects. Mr. Losinski has served as a library director at two other public library systems in Illinois and Ohio; he began his library career in a public library in Wisconsin. Mr. Losinski holds a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin. He currently serves as the chair of the Urban Libraries Council Board, headquartered in Chicago, and chair of the Government Relations Committee for the Ohio Library Council.

A very interesting and colorgul presentation! European design and innovation at work together to allow these libraries to better serve their patrons; lots of ideas and vibrant discussion – you should have been there.